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RULES AND REGULATIONS
LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES
The International Admissions and Immigration Advisor in the
Admissions Office is your primary liaison with the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, or
USCIS.
The International Admissions and Immigration Advisor is well informed about
USCIS regulations and can
 advise you on proper compliance with USCIS
procedures. It is important that you do not rely
on the advice of friends regarding immigration matters.
Situations often vary, so it is advisable that you contact the
International Admissions and Immigration Advisor, or an immigration attorney
on all matters that might affect your visa status.
To remain in good standing with USCIS, consult
with the International Admissions and Immigration Advisor BEFORE you do
anything that might jeopardize your right to remain in the U.S., BEFORE you
begin a new degree objective, change of major, change marital status,
sponsors, transfer schools, leave the United States (even to Tijuana), or
secure any employment.
Compliance with the law involves the following:
1. Maintain the validity of your passport for a minimum of six months at
all times. The consulate or embassy of your country in the
U.S.
will renew it.
2. All international students have to report any change in address,
phone number, email address, change of major or any other important
information within 10 days to the International Student
Admissions Office through a form called "Change of Address/SEVIS Update"
form. Cuyamaca College is required by law to have current
information on all international students at all times and need to
report any changes in SEVIS.
Failure to maintain your non-immigrant visa status can result in
serious immigration problems which could ultimately lead to deportation from
the
United States.
The International Admissions and Immigration
Advisor has additional information if you wish to discuss non-immigrant visa
status.
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USCIS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FULL COURSE OF STUDY
All F-1 students have to be enrolled in and complete at least 12 units per
semester (Spring and Fall) which has to be reported in SEVIS.
DISTANCE EDUCATION AND ONLINE COURSEWORK
No more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per semester may
be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken
on line or through distance education facilities.
REDUCED COURSE LOAD
There are only a few legitimate reasons to be enrolled in less than 12
units. Reduced course load always needs prior approval!
A student who drops below a full course of study without the prior
approval will be considered out of status. A
counseling appointment and a completed petition are required!
Click here to print the petition.
CHANGE
OF MAJOR
Students who wish to change their major during their studies at Cuyamaca
College need prior approval! A counseling appointment and a
petition are required!
Click here to print the petition.
The
student also needs to submit the following paper work together with the
petition:
UNPAID WORK
EXPERIENCE/INTERNSHIP
Prior approval by petition
is needed.
Click here for more detailed information.
Click here
to print the petition.
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL
TRAINING
Curricular
practical training (CPT)
is a paid work experience class with credit towards your degree. Prior
approval for paid work experience is needed. Click
here for more detailed information.
Click here to print the petition. A counseling appointment and a completed petition
are required!
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
Optional practical training is available for students enrolled in many of
the majors offered at Cuyamaca College; some majors are excluded.
Post completion OPT has to be applied for prior to the end of
the last semester of completion of your degree. OPT is available for
up to a total of 12 months and if taken after graduation it has to be
completed within 14 months after the last day of school.
For more details on requirements, please contact Rita Favro.
A counseling appointment and a completed petition
is required!
Click here to print the petition.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
International students can apply
for a social security number only if they are approved for work. No
other reason is accepted by the Social Security Administration. A
letter from the International Student Admissions Office is necessary.
Completed petition is required!
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COMPLETION OF DEGREE
Students
who are eligible for graduation
must
apply for graduation
and
petition prior to the end of their last semester.
Applying for graduation can be done in the
Admissions and Records Office. Deadline to submit application for
graduation is listed in the Class Schedule calendar. A counseling
appointment and completed petition are required!
Click here to print the petition.
Deadlines to submit application for graduation are listed in the Class
Schedule calendars each semester.
TRANSFER TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION
A petition must be completed with the
international student counselor prior to the end of their final semester at
Cuyamaca College. In addition, a student who decides to transfer to
another institution must provide an original letter of acceptance
from the prospective school before the end of the 60-day "grace period."
Click here to print the petition.
EXTENSION OF STAY
Any F-1 student who is maintaining status and making normal progress toward
completion of his/her educational objective, but who is unable to complete
the course of studies by the program end date on form I-20, must apply for a
program extension prior to the end date stated on the I-20.
A counseling appointment and completed petition are
required!
Click here to print the petition.
IN ADDITION, a student who decides to transfer to another institution must
provide an original letter of acceptance for the prospective school
before the end of the 60-day grace period to the International Admissions
and Immigration Advisor to be properly transferred in SEVIS.
GRACE PERIODS
The grace period regulations are as follows:
-
A 60-day period for those who have
completed their course of study and any authorized practical
training and
-
A 15-day period for those who
terminate their course of study before it is complete with
authorization prior to termination.
Students who terminate their course of studies without prior approval or
otherwise fail to maintain status are not eligible for any additional
period and have to leave immediately.
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VISA RENEWAL
Students who need to renew their F-1
student visa during their studies need to petition at least 2 months before
they are leaving the USA to visit their home country where they can renew
their visa by making an advanced appointment with the US Embassy/Consulate
in their home country for a visa interview. They will need a letter
from the International Student Admissions and Immigration Advisor for that
interview. A completed petition is required!
Click here to print the petition.
The
student also needs to submit the following documents together with the
petition:
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HEALTH INSURANCE
ASSISTANCE
 Medical care in the United States is
extremely expensive because the system is privately based.
The rate that
expenses accumulate can be astounding. Costs for treatment at a clinic for a
simple broken wrist can exceed $800, but may cost more.
Medical treatments are very expensive in the United States. As
an "F-1" visa student, you are not eligible for any federal or state welfare
assistance, and if you are uninsured, you are held responsible for paying
all your medical expenses.
As a consequence, Cuyamaca College STRONGLY
RECOMMENDS that ALL International Students maintain valid health insurance
coverage during their entire stay in the United States.
You will be asked for proof of insurance after you arrive in the United
States. The
Student Insurance Agency web site offers information on international
student insurance. Just
click on "International Plans" and then on state of California on the map to get started.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT AT ANOTHER
COLLEGE
International students are not allowed to take classes at another college
for the first two semesters of their studies. Continuing students are only
allowed to take classes that are counted towards the full course of study
requirement at another college if the needed classes are not offered at
Cuyamaca
College
or if there are schedule conflicts. Students are encouraged to take all
courses at
Cuyamaca
College however,
exceptions are made on a limited basis. Completed petition is required!
Click
here to print the petition.
WORK ON CAMPUS
On campus work (20 hours/week during the semester and 40 hours/week during school
breaks) can be applied for by petition after successful completion of at
least 2 semesters at
Cuyamaca
College.
Click here for more detailed information. Prior approval is required by
petition!
Click
here to print the petition.
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El
Cajon, California 92019 
